A MARUXAINA

In San Cibrao, a municipality in Cervo (Lugo), since 1985, the Festival of Maruxaina has been celebrated every second Saturday of August.
During this festival, the capture, landing, and trial of the mermaid Maruxaina are represented. Typically, the mermaid successfully passes the trial,
and she is returned to the islets where she lives the rest of the year until the next celebration, where she will once again undergo the judgment of humans.
Some say that Maruxaina was a mermaid from the Mariña de Lugo, and that sailors, attracted by her melodious songs or her screams, suffered constant shipwrecks
on those shores, especially on the cliffs of the Farallóns. The sailors of San Cibrao decided to organize themselves to end the mermaid. One moonless night, determined, they set sail to search for her, and to counteract her enchanting voice,
they played music on horns. On land, they extinguished the lights, and in that darkness, the sailors managed to capture
Maruxaina and bring her to the village where she was judged and condemned.
Others believe that Maruxaina is a mermaid, nymph, or Water Hag that screams to warn sailors of a possible shipwreck.
She is half fish and half woman, living in the Cova de Xan Bello, on the islands of the Farallón, under the islet of Sombriza. They consider her a protector of sailors,
who spends her time spinning, and when the weather turns bad, she climbs onto a rock and from there starts screaming or blowing a horn to warn against going out to sea.
It is a representation of the antithetical myth.
In San Cibrao, children are frightened by Maruxaina in the same way that in other places, it is done with the Bogeyman, Coco, or the Boogeyman.
They are told that if they don't behave well, Maruxaina will come and take them to the Farallóns.
Maruxainas is also the name of birds similar to petrels that come to announce that it is not safe to go out to sea because there will be a storm. We don't have a description,
and we don't know what kind of bird it is, but it's worth noting that this description is reminiscent of the primordial sirens, which were said to be birds.

SANTA COMPAÑA

The Santa Compaña, a spectral procession steeped in folklore, manifests in various versions across different communities. It revolves around the haunting midnight wanderings of tormented souls, draped
in white hooded cloaks, traversing the paths of villages. This otherworldly procession, often associated with death, commences at midnight.
Central to this eerie spectacle is a living leader, typically a parishioner from a local church. This leader carries a cross or a cauldron of holy water, and sometimes both, leading the somber parade.
Following closely behind are several souls of the departed, each holding a flickering candle. While these souls may not always be visible, local legends suggest that the scent of melting wax wafts through the air,
serving as an eerie warning of their presence.
The living leader, bound by a mysterious curse, is compelled to undertake this nocturnal journey each night. Strangely, they have no recollection of their actions the following day, as the curse plunges them
into a trance during the midnight procession. The eerie march concludes before daybreak, and the living leader returns to their bed, often fatigued and disoriented, with no memory of the nocturnal events.
Crucially, the living leader can only be freed from this spectral duty if they encounter another person during the procession willing to bear the cross or cauldron. Failure to pass on the curse within weeks results
in a ghastly fate — the cursed leader becomes pale, thin, and eventually succumbs to death. The curse then unknowingly transfers to another unsuspecting parishioner.
To avoid falling prey to the curse, witnesses who chance upon the Santa Compaña have devised various protective measures. They might hastily sketch "Solomon's Circle" on the ground using chalk or perform specific warding gestures.
Another strategy involves tying a black cat in the path of the procession and swiftly retreating, or executing warding symbols such as the horn gesture or the fig sign (Figa - See Magick section for more information).
Intriguingly, the leader of the spectral procession can be either male or female, depending on the gender of the patron saint of the parish. The primary purpose of the Santa Compaña is believed to be the announcement of impending death,
and its mission involves visiting the homes where death is imminent.
According to popular belief, besides the living leader, the Santa Compaña remains unseen but can be sensed as a shiver or shudder, accompanied by an overwhelming feeling of danger.
Some versions attribute the ability to see the Santa Compaña to individuals who were mistakenly anointed with holy oil for the sick instead of chrism during baptism. Alternatively, it is believed that those with
special sensitivities can perceive hidden aspects of reality. While not everyone can see the souls in the procession, some claim to witness the ethereal glow of their candles, resembling ignis fatuus or will-o'-the-wisps,
as they traverse their mysterious path.

SACAÚNTOS - GALICIAN BOOGEYMAN

The "Sacaúntos" is a frightening character, similar to the "Home do Saco," a large and poorly dressed figure. Sometimes, it is also called "O Papón," suggesting its ability to devour large quantities of, usually,
people, especially children. The "Sacaúntos," with a terrifying gaze, extracts the fat from small children until they are left with just bones (hence his name - "unto" means fat).
Once he has the fat, he heads into the forest to consume it and become strong and vigorous like the children. According to others, he sells the fat to the elderly, exchanging it for their blood to rejuvenate himself.
The origin of the character may possibly be medieval, stemming from cases of anthropophagy during times of great famine. Manuel Blanco Romasanta, also known as the "lobishome de Allariz,"
a serial killer who operated between 1833 and 1852, was also nicknamed "Sacaúntos". Etymology: from Gothic "saka" (lawsuit, extract, take out) and Latin "unctum" (oil, ointment, smear).